MaNan Stars & Fireflies #5 Part 123 Page 97 No PMS - Page 49

Manik & Nandini - Stars & Fireflies 122

Life is never always the same just like your heartbeat. Ups and downs are what make up life. Things change, people change; people who we think will never our side, the bonds that were thicker than blood suddenly get weak, people leave forever and never look back.

We are born in a moment; we die in a moment; we fall in love in a moment; our heart breaks in a moment; one moment is all it's needed for life to change and people to change.

Nandini was sad that Navya left her forever; she was her first friend in this city of unknown. Though they drifted apart blamed it on Navya's immaturity or circumstances but things changed between them and now thing will be same ever. It was two weeks since Navya was gone, Nandini tried calling her every now and then but no response. One fine evening Nandini was sitting in Malhotra mansion trying to understand few business rules when a courier came for the Malhotra family; when opening she found a wedding card. It was Navya's wedding card, Nandini was shocked "navya is gtting married in next 4 days." She said to DJ. "What?" DJ asked in a shocked tone. Everyone knew what happeed in the rehab but never did they expected this to happen to fast. "Cabir ka kya hoga?" DJ was worried, for Cabir was equally dear as Manik. In Manik's absence in recent times Cabir was the one who filled the void in her life.

"Cabir has to know this?" Nandini murmured and ran to call Cabir. Cabir was sitting in the Fab5 practice room in the tour bus, things were not looking good for Fab5 ego clashes became bigger than their friendship. The only time they all came together was for practice or for performance. And Cabir has Navya's issue to deal with, he wanted to end this tour asap and go to patna to talk to her parents, for the first time he too wanted something for himself and he was not entirely wrong in wanting and needing that love.

Breaking his train of thoughts his phone buzzed and he looked at caller being Nandini. For a moment forgetting all his pain he was back to his usual chirpy ways "jis number pe aapne call kiya hai who Manik Malhotra kanahi hai." And he burst out laughing. But before he could say anything further Nandini cut him off in between and said "navya is getting married in 4 days go save your love Cabir." He went numb, there was lump in his throat and his blood dried. Everything went blank and the only thing that registered in his mind was "navya is getting married in 4 days." "cabir! Cabir!" Nandini was shouting from the other end "haan!" cabir said in a trance. "go behind her we don't have time Cabir." Nandini reasoned. "Nandini I can't we have concerts planned up. It's important" abir tried to reason with him. "nothing's more important love." It was Mukti standing at the door. She snatched the phone from Nandini and asked "What is it Nandini tell me." Nandini explained everything to Mukti and after the call Mukti disconnected the call and dragged Cabir to dining room and called Fab4.

Mukti called everyone to the dining area and said "guys there is problem." "what is it Mukti? Is everything ok?" Manik was concerned. "no Manik nothing is alright." Mukti said as she narrated. Everyone was shocked and there was a pin drop silence as Cabir buried his face in his palm. "but what can we do now?" Alya said shrugging her shoulders. "we can Alya. We an ask the concert organizers to postpone the further concerts after tomorrow's Kolkata concert." Mukti suggested. Manik pondered over her suggestion as Cabir looked up with hope but Dhruv suddenly burst out "What? Have you lost it Mukti? You realize what are you talking about? Postponing the concert means heavy losses, going against contract and what if the contract gets cancelled." Dhruv said. "come on Dhruv leave the legal matters to me. Malhotra industries will handle everything. But now Cabir needs our help and I think Mukti is right." Manik tried to reason.

Manik's words were like the last nail in the coffin, the storm that was brewing all the time was now ready to erupt and engulf everything that came in it's way. Today will be marked in history as the day when something broke up forever and things will never go back to being the same. It will be an end of an era, a lifetime, a bond that was thicker than blood, a family of five unknows who were the mirror to each other and now that mirror breaks. There's a saying about a broken mirror that once broken it can't be fixed and even if it is the cracks are permanent and visible.

"Wow Manik!" Dhruv said "I knew you would say that!" Manik was shocked and so were Mukti and Cabir. "Why are you looking like that Manik? Are you surprised." Alya asked "you know Manik you have always done what you have thought to be right. You decided things for fab5 always. This tour you decided that you won't bring Nandini and now you are sad and won't talk to anyone. Why Manik? Now you are deciding that we should leave this tour in between and go behind Navya jeopradising everyone's career." Manik was shocked and could not speak a word. Never even in his wildest dreams he would think of harming fab5 but today he stood accused of playing with their careers.

Manik was numb and shocked but not Mukti. "have you lost it Alya. You are accusing Manik of bossing around and and jeopradising careers? If you have forgotten let me remind you he Manik Malhotra and he doesn't need some Epic Records to launch his career."

"Excatly mukti!" Dhruv spoke before Alya "he is Manik Malhotra; you are would be Mrs Abhimanyu Malhotra and he is Cabir Dhawan Manik's soul brother you guys don't need to worry about your future but what about me and Alya. Alya lost her brother because of Manik and his family and I will loose this album and career bacuse of Cabir and Manik. And all this is happening because of Nandini."

"Enough Dhruv!" finally Manik spoke. "I am silent doesn't mean I can't speak. You are accusing us of destroying you guys then let me remind you Alya's brother is the reason Neyonika is dead, Alya's brother is the reason that I don't speak to my DJ. And Dhruv I have loved fab5 more than my life. You guys are my family, our bond is thicker than the blood." Manik's voice choked.

"things have changed Manik forever. Neither you are the old Manik nor we are." Dhruv said. "loving Nandini doesn't mean things changed." Manik tried to reason. "it did change things Manik. I don't hold any grudges against her but she is the one for whom you broke my heart bitterly and I won't ever forget that." Alya said.

Cabir who was sitting silently all this while said "enough guys. No concert will be cancelled. We will go ahead with the tour as planned but Manik after this tour I want to go away from all this for few days and alone. No one would contact me. I want to find myself right now I'm lost. I promise I will be back." And he walked off.

Slowly everyone walked away leaving a shattered Manik standing there alone in the ruins of the broken friendship, broken trust and broken bonds. Manik was crying; tears won't leave his eyes, he felt his heart being ripped off his chest and staked while he is still alive. The pit in his stomace threatened to eat him up, the lump I his throat dried his words. He was living but not alive, he was breathing but not feeling. He dragged his feet to his bunker and collapsed on his bed. He took out his phone and dialed and within few seconds it was answered.

"I'm broken and it's all over." Manik's choking voice sent shrill down DJ's spine. "Manik!" she whispered his name. yes iy was DJ whom Manik called when life had sunken him at its lowest he needed her. "what happened baccha?" she asked fearing the worse but praying for it to be wrong. "Sab khatam ho gaya DJ sab kuch. I have lost them forever, nothing wil be same again. Am I that bad DJ that I can't have everything in life like a normal person. What is my mistake; where am I wrong." Manik was chking his teras were eating his words; DJ felt her heart would burst out. She knew how much his friends meant to him; she has seen him living, breathing for them and today she was witnessing the death of his soul because of his friends.

"Manik beta you are the best friend, best son anyone can ask for." DJ tried to set his heart at peace. He let a sarcastic laugh "really DJ if im so good then why Dhruv and Alya think I'm ruining their life. I am bad DJ I am very bad and I wish there is never a Manik Malhotra in this world ever. The Manik Malhotra who lost one of the most precious things he ever had Fab5. Mark this day in the calendar DJ; today marks the end of fab5; today marks the end of one facet of Manik Malhotra; the friend is dead." And Manik disconnected the call.

"Manik! Manik!" DJ tried to speak but the disconnected the call. DJ called his phone again it was switched off. She called Mukti "Mukti go to Manik and don't leave til I reach to Kolkata." She called Nandini "Nandini pack your bags we are going to Kolkata." She announced leaving a scared Nandini behind and she knew Manik was not ok.

It was past midnight when they reached Kolkata ; fab5 vacated the bus and went down to the hotel. As soon as they entered the lobby they were shocked by what they saw, DJ, Abhi and Nandini were waiting for them. As soon as Mukti saw Abhi she ran into his arms and burst out crying. DJ was angry and broken so much so that words failed her but Nandini; she was scared, her eyes were looking for one man, her man but he was no where. "where's Manik?" she asked as she looked straight into their eyes while Dhruv and Alya looked other way and walked off Cabir came to Nandini patted her head and said "he's in the bus. Im sorry Nandini." He too walked off.

Nandini raced to the bus. She opened the door and got in. it was dark inside like the darkness in their souls have seeped into the world around them. How did this darkness find them, does this darkness has a name, is it your name or is it my name.

Manik was lying in his bed looking at the ceiling aimlessly. His life which was a dream just a month and half back now is a total nightmare and the worst part was he was not dreaming it but living it. Just as he was loosing himself to the darkness he heard the voice which was his passage to light. "Manik! Manik!" Nandini was screaming his name in the darkness. She was crying but crying for Manik. She was scared but scared for Manik.

Finally Manik ran calling her name "Nandini! Nandini!" he switched on the lights and there she stood. Looking for him, crying for him "Nandini" he whispered her name like a prayer and she looked at him she she found the nirvana and they both started breathing. She stretched her arms and he ran into them; he hid in her arms realeasing all his pain. He cried in her breaking letting go off the torment that was tearing him apart. Manik was broken, Manik was in darkness, he has lost soul; if Nandini was his hearl fab5 was his soul and he lost it.

"I lost it all Nandini. I lost them forever." He uttered between his sobs. His tears were wetting her shoulder and tearing her soul apart. The ever strong Manik Malhotra was crying helpless and this broke Nandini beyond words could ever express. He broke the hug and looked deep in her eyes asking "am I that bad Nandini? Do I play with lives? Not value the relations?" Nandini wiped his tears and nodded her head in a NO. "I swear Nandini im not bad. Im not bad Nandini; tell them Nandini." He hugged her again and this time time even more tighter.

There comes a point in time when the reality is so bad that we just lose ourselves; we lose our way in the darkness and only thing that can save us is love; an unconditional and pure love which will hold our hand and walk us to light.

Nandini broke the hug, wiped her tears and looked into his eyes cupping his face with her tiny palms pressed her lips againg his. It was the softest kiss ever seen when one soul was healing healing its mate. Manik didn't respond for a few seconds but later she felt his lips moving in syn with hers. He clutched her waist and pulled her close to himself as she wrapped her arms around his nape fisting his hair. The time stood still to witness their love the bond so pure that even angels would descend from heaven to protect them. finally what seemed like eternity they broke the kiss and joined their foreheads soaking each other's presence.

"Manik!" Nandini whispered ever slowly and he just replied in "hmm." "will you listen to me whatever I am going to say now?" she said as she took him to his bunker. She said taking the support of back rest and made Manik lay with his head on her lap and soon he dug his face in her while wrapping his arms against her chest. "Manik there comes a point in time when you have to take a step back and let go off few things not because you don't believe it in anymore because maybe that battle is not worth fighting. Never ever blame yourself that you are bad person Manik you are the most selfless person anyone can have in their lives. You have the biggest and purest heart which has love for all for everyone. You know my Ams used to say sometimes good things fall apart to make way for better things in life. So let it go and don't lose yourself to this darkness. They've gone Manik so let them go; let them find their skies and fly in it." "Thanks Nandini!" Manik said before he dozed off.

It was 7 am when DJ and Cabir walked in the bus with breakfast. DJ hesitantly knocked the door which broke Manik and Nandini's sleep. Manik woke to find Nandini sleeping while sitting and cursed himself but before he could curse himself more Nandini put her finger on his mouth and said "stop blaming yourself for everything." They again heard the knock and Manik moved to open the door only to find DJ and Cabir waiting for them. he geastured them to come in. DJ sat on the bed and Cabir on chair. "Manik!" DJ was about to say something when Manik put his head in her lap and said "I am sorry for hurting you DJ! That all I can say that I take back every word I say and every pain I gave you . I beg for your forgiveness." DJ wiped her tears and cupped Mnaik's face saying "Manik you are my hero and I mean it when I say it. I raised a man and I am proud of myself because everyone could be singer, a millionaire but there can be only one Manik Malhotra in this world" she skiised his forehead and he hugged her tightly. Finally Manik got his gamily back, the one person before Nandini came around, the one person who could give him hope in darkness he got her back in his life.

The next few days passed with great difficulty for all of them. they came and performed but everyone somewhere that magic was missing, the magic of their friendship was missing from their music. Navya got married and she spoke to Cabir on the day of her wedding breaking him completely. Nandini tried to speak to Dhruv and Alya but all went in vain but her efforts didn't go unnoticed by Manik who with every passing day realized it is now time to turn the page and start a new chapter. DJ, Abhi and Nandini never left Manik, Mukti and Cabir's side they knew how broken they were.

Finally the night arrived, the night which would mark the end of a chapter in their lives and beginning of another chapter was here. This night will mark a goodbye from few forever. Manik was standing in the green room when he felt two tiny hands hugging him from back. "so you are here?" he asked. "how can I not be?" she replied "Manik how are you? I mean you are ready for it right?" she was worried for him. "Nandini relax! I have made my peace and ready to move on. I have no regrets for what I am doing." Manik said he kissed her forehead and moved to take his position.

Soon the lights were switched off with the spot light falling on Manik as he started strumming his guitar and sang.

Yar milte hai pyar milte hai
Hamko yarro nasib se
Ek duje ki adate bante dil ko chute karib se
Har hassi be aansu pe de de jo pehra
Ek din kyu chale hain jate chod ke tanha
Yeh dosti... milti nasib se
Yeh dosti...milti nasib se
Yeh dosti... milti nasib se
Yeh dosti... najuk hain narm hain
Yeh dosti... yaaro ka karm hain

Ooo...

Dosti Ankh se chalak ti hain
Jab Ban ke Paani
Har kisi bund me jalkti hain
Koyi kahaani
Zindgi ke rasto pe hote kitne male
Dosto ke khone ka bhi hota hain phir khel
Yeh dosti...karti hain ankh num
Yeh dosti... deti hain khub gum
Yeh dosti... milti hain nasib se
Yeh dosti... khilti hain nasib se

Hota kya fasla pucha karta hu main khudse
dur hain log jo sach main hain kya dur mujse
Dil ki jebo main hain sikee jiski batton ke
Pass hain wo phir kahi bhi betha hu chupke
Yeh dosti... tute bhi ruthke
Yeh dosti... banti bhi tutke
Yeh dosti... banti nasib se
Yeh dosti... chalti nasib se

Manik ended the song with a huge round of applause, they all took a bow Manik looked at all of them while Mukti and Cabir were tearful, Dhruv and Aliya were expressionledd. He then looked at the backstage where DJ, Nandini and badi maa were standing with tears in their eyes and smiles on their lips.

Manik took the mic and started speaking "Fab5 was just not a band, it was a legend where people spoke about the bond shared by 5 individuals who were as different as day and night but when they came together they could change the day and night. Fab5 was just a band it was a whole universe where we lived, loved, laughed, cried together and now lost forever. Fab5 was just not a band it was the way of life; it was life. But then it WAS not IS. Today was the last ever performance of fab5 as a band. I Manik Malhotra the lead guitarist and lead singer announce the split of fab5 forever and wish everyone success in their lives." Manik's voice choked he looked at Nandini and said "may they get the skies they are searching for and fly high." He took out his guitar and held it high saying "this guitar symbolizes fab5, the bond, the friendship, the era which ends tonight here." Saying this he smashed the guitar into pieces; everyone had tears in their eyes and Manik again said "this is the end of Fab5." And walked away hiding his tears.

Precap: Two year leap, a wedding and someone lost comes back.

End of chap.